George Korthauer wraps up 25 years as Petoskey city manager

As many who've worked with George Korthauer see it, there's much that the longtime Petoskey city manager has helped the community accomplish.

And as he's tackled one project after another, some of those people note that Korthauer hasn't been one to seek much fanfare.

In November, Korthauer informed city officials and staff that he'd be retiring as of Monday, Jan. 5. With his announcement coming a day after three incumbent city officials lost re-election bids, the manager said he wasn't sure his leadership meshed with the direction the community was looking to move in.

But he'll be leaving his job of 25 years with a sense of fulfillment.

"It has been a unique opportunity," the 57-year-old Korthauer said. "I've been honored to serve in this position. I was proud to be the city manager of Petoskey."

Asked about the principles he sees as important for city management, Korthauer noted a service-oriented philosophy.

Advertisement

"The only reason that government exists is to provide service," he said. "I think that the community is fortunate to have members of the staff who fully understand that. It's just a very dedicated group of people."

Former city council member Marilyn Davies, who was involved in Korthauer's 1983 hiring, noted that he came to the position with good references and a good educational background for public administration.

"He just spoke very well and sounded like he was the right guy at the right time," she said. "That has proved to be."

Like his predecessor, Steve Hofner - who spent about three years as city manager in the early '80s - Davies noted that Korthauer brought a youthful perspective to the job that Petoskey previously hadn't seen in some time.

During his first couple of months on the job, Davies said the weather put Korthauer's management skills to an early test, with Petoskey receiving about 100 inches of snowfall.

"He handled it beautifully, mobilizing the trucks and having everyone do their shifts," she said.

Davies took note of some major projects which Korthauer helped guide for the city. The combination of police and fire services into a public safety department in the late 1980s was one example.

She noted that some in the community were reluctant to see the switch from a largely volunteer fire department, and that some of the staff at that time didn't relish the cross-training that would be involved. But Davies added that the public safety model has been a cost-saver for the community.

She noted that a long-term makeover of the city's waterfront figured prominently in that new look.

New park amenities began to take shape there in the mid-1980s. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently agreed to provide a grant to help fund the last major component of the long-term waterfront plan - a fourth pier for the city's marina - and city officials could decide this year how they'll handle the rest of the funding needs.

Officials who are newer to city government know of Korthauer's record with major projects as well.

"Reality is, he's been the architect of this community for a long time," mayor Dale Meyer said of the manager.

And as Korthauer concludes his city service, he's seeing a couple of Petoskey's long-sought projects moving closer to reality.

In recent weeks, the local Tax Increment Finance Authority Board voted to recommend that the city pursue an assortment of new recreational amenities in the Bear River valley. This board helps operate the tax-increment financing mechanism which would be used toward financing the valley projects - and which previously supported improvements at Bayfront Park.

And the Michigan Legislature recently approved a bill meant to help ease Petoskey's acquisition of a state-owned railroad right of way through the downtown area, where officials hope to develop a pedestrian corridor and operate a city-owned passenger trolley along the train tracks. To become law, the bill needs Gov. Jennifer Granholm's signature.

City officials perhaps could make funding decisions for these projects in 2009, Korthauer has said.

To city council member Bob Johnson, Korthauer's leadership abilities seem clear.

"He has the innate ability to see the big picture," Johnson said. "He processes information and makes decisions based on the big picture.

"He can envision the future. He can see something that doesn't exist yet. Not all people have that ability. He was also very good at communicating that position to the people around him, the staff."

When Johnson joined city council about three years ago, he recalled that Korthauer took him on a tour of city facilities. As they drove around town, each city employee they encountered smiled and waved at the manager.

"That told me something right off the bat - these people not only respect George, they like him," Johnson said. "Not all leaders can pull that off."